Name: The Best Amman Tourist Attractions
Brand: Egypt Tours Plus
Availability: InStock
Rating: 5 (446 reviews)

It is so surprising to hear how many travelers say they thought of Amman in Jordan as their point of entry or gateway into the country’s many other fascinating destinations but did not think of Amman tourist attractions as a major part of the trip.

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Why is it surprising? For a few reasons:

It is the oldest perpetually inhabited city in the entire world (dating back almost ten thousand years to 7250 BC)
There are so many Amman tourist attractions that it might not be possible to visit them all, even in a stay of a week or more
It is a thriving and growing city, meaning that even more Amman tourist attractions appear on a regular basis (albeit modern destinations)

On top of all of that, it is a very popular city full of galleries, restaurants, museums, historical sites, and a thriving business district. Anyone of the city’s neighborhoods is going to offer a handful of Amman tourist attractions, and some decide to skip it because there is almost too much to see and do.

To help with this, we have put together a brief list of the must-see Amman tourist attractions for even a short visit to Jordan.

History and How It Relates to Many Amman Tourist Attractions

This city is so old that historians are unsure of just who the very first settlers were, but they know that they were a very organized society. They were overrun by the Greek Macedonians, who were then conquered by the Roman Empire. That is why many of the Amman tourist attractions date to that era. However, a series of natural disasters devastated many of these sites in ancient days, and so in some instances it is only Roman or ancient ruins.

Are they worth a visit? Absolutely! But, that is not where the story ends because the nineteenth century saw the arrival of Circassians, and then Ottoman Empire. The era of rail travel further changed Amman, and put it on trade routes and pilgrimage routes. It did not become a capital city until the 1920s, and since then it has just grown and grown.

Tourists have always made their way to Amman, but today the city sees more than one million travelers paying a visit (around half of all travelers into the country). This has allowed many Amman tourist attractions to be restored or preserved. It is why travelers today can see the ancient markets, many of the monuments and even the stunning Roman Theater.

A List of Top Amman Tourist Attractions

Which of the Amman tourist attractions would be considered “must see” destinations? A short list would have to include:

Roman Theatre – Fully restored, it is all that remains of the Roman city of Philadelphia. It is a must-see destination for all travelers to Amman and is overwhelming in size. It can seat up to 6,000 and is best visited in the early morning hours when the sunlight is amazingly warm and soft and daytime temperatures are manageable. A sunset photograph is also impressive and appealing. It has
Amman Citadel – On the highest hill in the city the Jebel al Qala’a, is ancient Rabbath Ammon. This is a Bronze Age fortress with amazing walls reconstructed during the Iron Age and later. It is home to the Temple of Hercules and the Ummayad Palace, a cistern, and the famous Byzantine Basilica. Give over at least half of a day to walking and exploring this amazing site, and if you can work with a guide, you’ll get even more from the experience.
Jordan Museum – Right next to city hall, it is deemed one of the finest museums in the Middle East. It traces the people of the region back to the Nabataean civilization and the collection even includes the world’s oldest known statues of human beings, as well as Jordan’s collection of Dead Sea Scrolls.
Qasr Al Mushatta – Partially restored ruins date to the Umayyad caliph and are part of an incomplete castle and winter palace. Close to the airport, they are impressive even though abandoned.
King Abdullah I Mosque – Absolutely beautiful in its design, it was finished only in 1989 and is a truly gorgeous structure. It can accommodate around 10,000 worshippers between the courtyard and interior spaces and is the only mosque in the city that is open to non-Muslim travelers.

Your visit should also include the Madaba Map, which is a mosaic map in an early Byzantine church of Saint George in the Madaba area. The Amman Archaeological Museum, the impressive Royal Automobile Museum that houses King Abdullah’s collection of cars and other vehicles, and Mount Nebo. Sitting high above the city, it offers truly stunning views of the entire Jordan River Valley.

Travelers also appreciate the culture and art of Darat Al Funun, the gorgeous Children’s Museum, Qasr Al Abad to the west of the city, the Jordan National Gallery of Fine Arts, the Haya Cultural Centre, the eerie Cave of the Seven Sleepers, and the endless delights of the shopping on Rainbow Street (in the Jebel Amman area, which is also a destination all its own).

Rail enthusiasts may want to add a stop at the Hejaz Railway that was once a main source of transportation between Syria and Jordan and Saudi Arabia. The Military Museum is also a fascinating spot.

As you can see, there are scores of places to visit and many things to see and do as you pay a visit to Amman. We have not even mentioned the different restaurants and eateries, the pedestrian areas ideal for people-watching and general sightseeing, and more.

If you want to make the very most of a day, week or even longer period in the oldest inhabited city in the world, you’ll want to speak with the tour experts at Egypt Tours Plus. With decades of travel experience in the region, they can help you book a private guided tour or even build a custom tour that ensures you savor an unforgettable visit to Amman’s many sites and attractions.